STAN REYNOLDS Apparently, this kidnapping occurred less than forty-eight hours after Mr. Samson signed the beneficiary designation forms.

J.B.So?

STAN REYNOLDS Not only did AIB underwrite your company’s Kidnap and Ransom policy, we’re also the re-insurer for the corporate life insurance issued on Mr. Samson. We’ve had a rash of kidnappings that have gone bad in the last few months, and our actuaries recommend we investigate claims which fall into certain parameters. Particularly after paying a substantial ransom and life insurance claim for a deceased executive of your firm so recently.

J.B. shoots another glare at Brad. Brad shrugs.

J.B. Are you refusing to pay the ransom because of a bean counter? Your company is jeopardizing the life of a valuable executive. Not to mention…Horatio is like a son to me.

BRAD Yeah, like a son.
J.B. clears his throat.

STAN REYNOLDSWe have a lawyer–a Notario–in CocoLoco dealing with the ransom funds. If the ransom claim is legitimate, it’ll be paid.

J.B.What do you mean…legitimate? What are you insinuating? STAN REYNOLDS I’m not insinuating anything, Mr. Dreyfuss. I’m here to investigate this claim. Can you ask Ms. Johnson to come in, please? I need confirmation of her signature as witness.
J.B. and Brad share a look.

Motions to a guerrillero who throws Horatio a canteen like
a football…it slaps him across his head…he drops to his
knees. With effort he reaches for it, gulps down the water.
Gasps, catches his breath…

HORATIO Please tell me what you want.

GENERALISIMO What I want?

HORATIO Anything, Generalisimo. Anything you want.
Motions to another guerrillero.

GENERALISIMO I think you should eat your dinner first. So you may negotiate your release with a clear head.

CAPITÁNShe was on the street. I am certain of it. I’d recognize that butchered Spanish anywhere.

CHUCK You heard her? C’mon, Capitán…lots of ex-pats butcher Spanish.

CAPITÁNNo one butchers Spanish like her. She is like those Texas Chainsaw Massacre people. It is a Romance language for Christ’s sake!

CHUCKWell then, let’s toast to romance…

They do.

Cantina Doors Swing open.

Janice rushes inside, José in tow.

José spots Capitán.

JOSÉAy, ay, ay.

JANICE
(to Chuck) I need to talk to you–
Chuck signals for her to shut-up…

Capitán turns his head…

Cantina patrons spot Janice.

CANTINA PATRONS
(toast) Yanice!

Capitán jumps out of his chair, whips out his gun…

CAPITÁNI will shoot you, you crazy lady!

CHUCKCapitán, what are you talking about? The crazy lady isn’t here.

He waves Janice away.

CAPITÁN I know you are here. I will kill you.
He races forward, waves his gun…patrons dive to the
ground.

Silence…

Janice stands only a few feet in front of Capitán…

Capitán shuffles forward, Janice steps back…one
foot…the other foot…

She backs into the swinging door; it squeaks open…

But the door pushes back, slams into Janice. She falls
forward…

Tumbles right into Capitán.

They stumble to the ground. She lands on top of him.

Arturo, Cantina waiter, enters, stands over the two…

ARTUROHola Capitán. Hola Yanice. How jou been?

Capitán scrambles to stand; Janice crawls out the door.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

A bullet misses her by an inch…

Patrons dive, bottles explode…

CLICK, CLICK, CLICK…gun empty.

CAPITÁN
Bullets…I need more bullets!

**

Inside Generalisimo’s Trump Tower jungle tent…

Generalisimo speaks into a satellite phone.

GENERALISIMOWhere is my money?

On the other end of the international phone call:

BRAD Your money could have been collected earlier if you’d have kidnapped him when you were supposed to.

GENERALISIMO We have a backlog of hostages. You cannot expect us to meet your impossible schedule, you Imperialist Yankee.

BRAD Thanks to your backlog, there’s been a snag. GENERALISIMO What is this…snag?

BRADWe’re working on it. But we need more time.

GENERALISIMOWe have many hostages to take. We do not have time to waste. Either you pay, or we release him…alive.

BRADNo! You can’t do that–we had a deal. You’ll get your money once he’s dead. GENERALISIMO Perhaps it is best you kill him.
**

Later, inside Brad’s office…
Brad sits…J.B. paces.

J.B.Is there any way you could’ve screwed this up more?

BRADHow was I supposed to know AIB was was the reinsurer?

J.B.They red-flagged the claim because of the exposure, you idiot. Not to mention the McGregor claim they just paid.

BRAD We had to pick the cheapest policies–all that cost-cutting crap.

J.B. Your ass is on the line.

BRADLook, J.B., everything’s cool. I spoke to —
(looks around) — Generalisimo. He’s fine with waiting. But not long. J.B.What about the Notario?

BRAD The who?
GROWL.

J.B.Did I pick the wrong incompetent ass to…terminate? Because of this investigation, the ransom money is being sent to this CocoLoco Notario instead of our hostage negotiator. The funds must be released to our hostage negotiator…
Brad sports a blank look.

J.B.
(leans in)Otherwise, the Notario’s people will handle the exchange and pay the ransom to Generalisimo. And if that happens…BRAD Generalisimo will have to release Horatio alive to get his money.

J.B.Listen, and listen good. That idiot has majority stockholder status, thanks to his demented Dad. I need Horatio dead before he realizes how much power he really has over this company. I want his shares. And I want that life insurance money. Understand?

J.B. Storms out…

Brad picks up the phone…

BRAD
(into phone) I need to speak to Levin. Yeah, I’ll hold.
Around the corner…a gray head peeps inside the
office…Brad is distracted by paperwork…

The gray head turns…Donald Samson. He slaps a black mask
over his eyes…a Zorro mask.

Suddenly, a blade’s tip stabs Brad’s neck…he drops the
phone.

Donald Samson is draped in full Zorro gear…cape and
sword…poses a practiced fencing stance…a drop of blood
spots Brad’s neck….